Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
工欲善其事，必先利其器. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
工欲善其事，必先利其器, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
工欲善其事，必先利其器 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
工欲善其事，必先利其器 you have here. The definition of the word
工欲善其事，必先利其器 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
工欲善其事，必先利其器, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
|
|
work; worker; skill work; worker; skill; profession; trade; craft; labour |
desire; longing; appetite desire; longing; appetite; wish |
good
|
his; her; its his; her; its; theirs; that; such; it (refers to something preceding it) |
matter; thing; item matter; thing; item; work; affair |
|
certainly; must; will certainly; must; will; necessarily |
early; prior; former early; prior; former; in advance; first |
advantage; benefit; profit advantage; benefit; profit; sharp |
his; her; its his; her; its; theirs; that; such; it (refers to something preceding it) |
device; tool; utensil
|
| trad. (工欲善其事，必先利其器)
|
工
|
欲
|
善
|
其
|
事
|
，
|
必
|
先
|
利
|
其
|
器
|
| simp. #(工欲善其事，必先利其器)
|
工
|
欲
|
善
|
其
|
事
|
，
|
必
|
先
|
利
|
其
|
器
|
| Literally: “If a workman wishes to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools.”
|
Etymology
From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):
子貢問為仁。子曰：「工欲善其事，必先利其器。居是邦也，事其大夫之賢者，友其士之仁者。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
子贡问为仁。子曰：「工欲善其事，必先利其器。居是邦也，事其大夫之贤者，友其士之仁者。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
- Zǐgòng wèn wéi rén. Zǐ yuē: “Gōng yù shàn qí shì, bì xiān lì qí qì. Jū shì bāng yě, shì qí dàfū zhī xián zhě, yǒu qí shì zhī rén zhě.”
- Zigong asked about the practice of virtue.
The Master said, "The mechanic, who wishes to do his work well, must first sharpen his tools. When you are living in any state, take service with the most worthy among its great officers, and make friends of the most virtuous among its scholars."
Pronunciation
Proverb
工欲善其事，必先利其器
- One must have good tools in order to do a good job.